(Spin-off of Imaginary, more so specifically it's second book, Severity)
Cleo Vexer, a problematic teenage girl, is the sensation of your average pessimist and mediocre criminal. Still having to survive the rest of her senior year bitter and lonely...
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I rush to my apartment door, rather knocking harshly, not in the mood to search for my keys.
Winsley opens the door almost immediately, Riley's figure a few feet behind her. A sigh escapes my lips as I walk inside and scoop Riley into my arms. She instantly curls her arms around me as well, her frail body feeling weaker than I remember.
"What have you done, Riley Allway?" I ask as I retract from the hug. My stare is expectant as she retreats the idea in her mind to leave me unanswered.
"I ran away because my parents want me to train already for the business; they say I need to be shaped for it." She tells. "You know how it is, Cleo. Don't take me back there."
Riley's plead is conflicting as her words scanned through my mind. At the same time, I understood. I was once a runaway who took on New York with just a bulky luggage and a dream. Riley is becoming who I once was, and there was undeniable part of me that didn't want to drive her home.
"I don't know, Riley." I tell her honestly. "Caslon is worried so much about you. You shouldn't be hiding from him at least."
From the corner of my peripheral, I catch Winsley's eye. She smiles encouragingly as she backs away into the depths of the hallway, and eventually, my room. I assume she doesn't want to intrude and would rather return to her slumber.
"If you tell him, if you tell my family, I'm going to end up like Caslon. Living in a shadow I don't want to live in." She pleads further.
Atfirst, I'm unconvinced.
My gaze falls back on Riley, her eyes wide. "Really Cleo, please don't tell Caslon I'm here. He's going to take me back home no matter what."
"Riley," My voice drifts, like a tear through my mind has rippled my voice. "He's really worried about you."
"I know he cares but..." The look on my face forces her to finish the sentence. "Not more than he cares about himself."
My eyebrows furrow for a fleeting moment. "Caslon? No, Caslon cares. He always cares, a lot."
Riley smiles sheepishly, like she knows something I don't. "Trust me, Cleo. I know him a lot more that you do."
The confusion in my eyes seem to unsettle her as she quickly regrets letting those words slip. But I can tell that there's something artificial in her wince, the part of her convincing me not to tell him about her whereabouts.
I sigh heavily. "You can stay, but I can't guarantee that it'll be long."
A smile breaks out onto Riley's face, and it almost makes me think I've done the right thing.
"That's more than enough."
My gaze automatically shifts to my bedroom door, knowing for a fact that Winsley was reclaiming her rest. Riley's eyes catch mine, and I am reminded of the relief that flooded in her smile. I am reminded that she came to me. That she trusted me. More than she trusts her own brother, the one I was dating.
It felt odd to think that. Up until now, it didn't even feel like we were dating at all. Yes, he made me laugh and enjoy the night like it wasn't apart of a messy timeline, but in my defense, Riley's words gave me doubt. If she - the sister raised with him by her side since birth - talked about him like that, how was I supposed to argue against it? It didn't feel wrong when I instead wanted to agree.
"Get some rest, Riley." My hand rubs her arms as I lead her to the pull out couch and tuck her in.
I smile sweetly, like a mother putting her daughter softly to sleep. The feeling comforts me.
The wholesome, innocent feeling only lasts upon my lips until Riley is coated in a slumber. My smile quickly loosens into a slight frown as I watch her shuffle to sleep, I now being the only one awake.
I thought about Caslon, worried about Caslon to put it to better words. The reality was, that I'm scared. Whatever Riley had told me tonight, had stricken me.
Because if I knew what Riley knew, chances were, I wouldn't be so curious anymore to know what he's hiding.
